December 19, 2014, Rip Curl’s Gabriel Medina has just made history, clinching Brazil’s first ever surfing World Title in pumping 6 foot waves on the final day of the Pipe Masters at Hawaii’s Banzai Pipeline.
In his opening Round 3 heat, Medina posted two 8.83-point rides to leave his Hawaiian opponent Dusty Payne in a combination situation, and saw the Brazilian move ahead to Round 4.
Medina took down countryman Filipe Toledo and Australia’s Josh Kerr in Round 4, moving him automatically into the quarterfinals.
Heading into the Pipeline Masters, three World Title contenders remained, Medina, Rip Curl teammate and 3 x World Champion Mick Fanning, alongside 11 x World Champion Kelly Slater.
Medina’s win in Round 3, meant Slater was out of the 2014 world title race, leaving only Fanning as a challenger.
Just as Medina paddled out to contest his quarterfinal against Toledo, the Fanning versus Alejo Muniz Round 5 heat was in its final moments.
Fanning was unable to find the score to keep the World Title race alive, and Gabriel Medina became the new ASP World Surfing Champion.
At just 20 years of age, and in only his third full year on the ASP World Championship Tour, Medina lead the World Tour rankings throughout 2014.
Rip Curl congratulates Gabriel Medina. #VivaMedina
For more information, images and video content, head to ripcurl.com and aspworldtour.com.
